Things to do in Mengshan

Changping Shuiyun Yao Village Scenic Area

Tianshu Xiagu

Tianshuxiagu is located 5 kilometers east of Mengshan County. It is named after the huge "天" character at the entrance of the valley and the "天书奇石" on the Qingtan in the valley. The canyon winds through the mountains of Luoluo Peak, Guanyin Mountain, Gulangzhai, Qihaoling, etc., with a total length of more than 10 kilometers. Two clear streams of Hulu River and Sancha River flow around the valley. The beautiful scenery is famous in Guidong, and the mysterious story has a long history. Yumeng Qingtan is the central Attraction of the canyon. Yumeng Qingtan is S-shaped and about 100 meters long. There are strange stones around the pool, some like toads, some like horsetails. The pool is three meters deep, the water is clear and the fish can be counted. Being in the pool is like entering a dream, so people also call the canyon Yumengchong. In the middle of Qingtan, there is a huge stone sticking out of the pool, with hundreds of large and small horse hoof prints on the stone. Legend has it that it is the footprints left by the celestial horse in the heavenly palace who is greedy for the fairyland on earth and descended to the earth. The local folk song goes like this: "Big horses chase small horses, chasing after Qingtan, who can see it? Silver is used to raise soldiers and conquer the world." Leaving Qingtan and wading through two streams, a stone mountain appeared in front of us. It was shaped like a huge iron pillar with a bronze bell hanging on it. This place is called Tongzhong Mountain. Following the "Xianma'ao" sloping 100-step ladder, although it was summer, when you get down here, the trees are shady, the green vines are hanging upside down, the young leaves are rubbing shoulders, and the petals are brushing your face, making you feel cool and green. Going forward, the scenery changes with every step. The beautiful scenery of Dengxiantan, Shawengchi, Xiangzhu Peak, and the boy worshipping Guanyin are presented in front of you. When passing Longmen Gorge, you can see a three-level waterfall, which is floating and breaking into thousands of broken jade and thousands of white flowers on the rocks, and then gathering into Longtan after falling.

Gushagou Ditch

Jinxiu is a county with many branches of the Yao ethnic group and an autonomous county where the Yao culture is relatively well preserved. It enjoys the reputation of "the world's Yao capital". The intact ecological resources and pleasant climate make Jinxiu an ecological health and summer resort. The Jinxiu Gushagou Attraction is located in the east of Jinxiu County. It is composed of Changliuhe Canyon Rafting, Niulingding Red Maple Forest, Lingzu Ancient Village, Lingzu Grand Canyon, Bale Yaozhai Alpine Tribe, Tianlan Mountain Scenic Spot and other scenic spots. The ecological environment of the Attraction is natural and quiet, the forest landscape is verdant and primitive, the climate is comfortable and pleasant, the average annual temperature is 17 degrees Celsius, warm in winter and cool in summer. It is a romantic place that integrates mountain appreciation, leisure and vacation, experience of alpine tribal life, and alpine gliding activities. The original ecological scenery is full of beautiful mountains and clear waters, and there are many peaks. The mountain spring is as clear as a crystal, as green as jade, and the water is soft, sweet and delicious. The stream is leisurely, fish are playing, the mountains and forests are verdant, birds are singing, and macaques are happy. The tall green bamboos make this place a green world; the colorful stones are scattered like pearls and agates in the Nengqin River in the Lingzu Valley, which is breathtaking. The light morning mist, hazily covering the mountains and waters, is full of vitality and is an ideal place for summer vacation.

Place of the Founding of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Enfeoffment of Kings

Mengshan County was known as Yong'an Prefecture in the 13th year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom revolution lasted 20 years, spanned 18 provinces, and represented the peak of peasant uprisings in the history of China. In 1851 (the first year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty), following the uprising in Tiancun, Guiping, the world-renowned Taiping Heavenly Kingdom peasant revolution captured Yong'an Prefecture (the current county seat) on September 25 (the first day of the intercalary eighth lunar month) and remained there for over half a year. Here, the Taiping Army, led by Hong Xiuquan, conferred titles and established a system, carrying out a series of regime-building activities. They promulgated the Heavenly Calendar, published new books, carefully deployed defenses, engaged in frequent military battles against the Qing army, and broke through the Qing army's strict economic blockade. This laid the foundation for their march into the Jiangnan region and the establishment of their capital in Jinling, writing an immortal chapter in the history of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom revolution. Mengshan is the cradle of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom revolution and the first capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Today, Mengshan County preserves 26 sites related to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom revolution and over 1,500 cultural relics. The park also preserves sites such as the ancient city wall of Yong'an Prefecture, the Wu Temple, ancient magnolia trees, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Edict Stele Corridor, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall. Outside the city, there are also the East and West Forts and the former command post of the Southern King, Feng Yunshan.

No. 16 of Best Things to Do in Guangxi

Silver Cave

The Silver Cave attraction is located in Maling Town, Lipu City, and is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Silver Cave is a typical karst cave that runs through twelve mountain peaks. The cave features sparkling and dazzling stalactites, earning it the reputation of being a wonder among the world's karst caves. In 2026, the attraction completed an upgrade of its cave lighting technology, comprehensively refreshing the illumination of its 18 major scenic spots with a "dual-zone integration" concept for visual experiences. The geological rock zone employs museum-grade lighting control to restore the silver luster of stalactites, while the magnificent terrain area utilizes 3D mapping technology in the "vicissitudes of time" hall to showcase geological evolution from the Devonian period to karst formation, creating China's first 360-degree immersive karst lightscape. Pioneering biophilic lighting, contactless interaction, and AR scene integration, the design achieves symbiosis between nature and technology with "visible light, invisible fixtures." Core attractions like the musical stone screen, Yaochi fairyland, silver diamond, Buddha's discourse, money tree, and primordial pearl umbrella gain enhanced depth and dimensionality. Multiple social media photo spots along the route blend natural wonders with digital innovation through AR interactions, bringing 100-million-year-old karst marvels to vibrant, interactive life. This upgrade preserves the core advantage of the cave's natural views while infusing new cultural significance and communication value through innovative experiences, transforming the attraction from "sightseeing-oriented" to "immersive experience-focused," successfully creating a unique tourism model for Guilin's karst caves. The attraction deeply integrates high-quality surrounding resources to create a diverse cultural tourism experience matrix: the earth memory meteorite wonder museum combines meteorite collections, paleontological fossils, geological science education and 4D interactive experiences, enriching study tour content; Yinlong ancient village preserves complete traditional northern Guangxi residential architecture with profound historical heritage, serving as an ideal destination for exploring ancient village culture and experiencing folk customs; the Xiaogingshan Lipu taro planting base, leveraging the nationally protected geographical indication product Lipu taro, has developed a distinctive agricultural sightseeing area integrating standardized planting, rural scenery viewing and farming experiences; Xiangshang Guixu centers on Lipu taro culture to create an immersive cultural experience space featuring taro culture exhibitions, farming activities, specialty cuisine, creative markets and folk interaction, making Lipu taro culture tangible, appreciable, experiential and consumable. The attraction is built upon natural landscapes, centered around cultural experiences, and supported by distinctive agriculture. It connects diverse formats including cave sightseeing, science education, ancient village exploration, taro field leisure, cultural experiences and flower viewing, striving to create a new pattern of comprehensive tourism development that deeply integrates agriculture, culture and tourism. Through attraction-driven development, industrial synergy and cultural empowerment, it effectively promotes industrial growth in surrounding villages, increases employment and income for residents, and strengthens village collective economies. This achieves coordinated progress in ecotourism, ancient village culture, specialty agriculture and rural revitalization, establishing a high-quality development model for the integrated growth of agriculture, culture and tourism in Maling town. Next, the attraction will implement a three-phase agricultural-cultural-tourism integration upgrade project. Focusing on key areas including the Silver Cave core landscape, earth memory science education, Yinlong ancient village cultural preservation, Xiaogingshan Lipu taro planting base improvement, and Xiangshang Guixu Lipu taro cultural experience enhancement, the project will further improve touring facilities, diversify offerings and elevate service quality. It aims to strengthen the integrated industrial chain encompassing cave sightseeing, science education, ancient village leisure, farming experiences, taro culture displays and distinctive homestays. Through this construction, the project will comprehensively promote deep integration between the attraction and surrounding villages, specialty agriculture and cultural resources, continuously expanding brand influence and industrial driving force. It strives to build a high-quality development model for agricultural-cultural-tourism integration in southern Guilin, injecting stronger momentum into rural revitalization.

No. 14 of Family-friendly Attractions in Guangxi

Panwang Realm of Dayao Mountains

Panwang Realm of Dayao Mountains is located in Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County, Laibin City, Guangxi, known as the "World Capital of Yao Culture." This attraction is a national model for barrier-free mountain scenic areas. The landscape features stunning natural beauty, with Jinxiu River and Panwang River meandering through the terrain, surrounded by pristine forests and natural stone formations dotted with Yao ethnic villages. The unique quartz sandstone peak forest landform creates a spectacular scenery of deep ravines, steep cliffs, and towering peaks. The attraction features 32 breathtaking scenic spots, 14 deep and cool valleys, 9 towering narrow gorges, and over 100 stone pillars and peaks. Cultural highlights include the sacred Yao ethnic site Panwang Temple and the historic Panwang Waterfall. The site is equipped with a 1,650m Panwang Cableway, two cliffside sightseeing elevators standing 133m and 153m tall respectively, and 8.5km of accessible cliffside walkways for barrier-free exploration. To enhance the immersive cultural experience, visitors can enjoy the spectacular live performance "Ode to Panwang," which vividly portrays the legendary story of the Yao ancestor Panwang leading his army in battle and building their homeland. The hospitable Yao people welcome every visitor from afar to the breathtaking Panwang Realm of Dayao Mountains attraction!

No. 1 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Guilin

Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic Area

I. Basic information Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaA high-altitude sightseeing and leisure tourism project jointly invested in and developed by Shaanxi Junjing Ropeway Investment and Construction Co., Ltd. under Shaanxi Tourism Group Corporation and Guilin Ruisheng Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The total investment of the project is CNY 260 million. The attraction is located in Meng Village, Gaotian Town, Yangshuo County, adjacent to National Highway 321, 5 km from the Gaotian entrance/exit of the Baomao (Guiwu) Expressway, and approximately 5 km from core attractions such as Yangshuo Yulong River, Moon Hill, and Ten-Mile Gallery, as well as Lipu Silver Cave attraction. II. Project construction status The project aims to create the Yangshuo Mountain Top Nature Park, composed of the natural karst views "Three Peaks and Two Valleys" (Yuanbao Peak, Ruyi Peak, Necklace Peak, Caixi Valley, and Baihua Valley) as well as creative views such as the cableway, Ruyi Cloud Top viewing platform, Ruyi Suspension Bridge, forest promenade, glass walkway, and digital experience hall. Travelers can overlook Yangshuo's unique karst peak-forest landscape from the air in all directions, walk through the forest, admire Guilin's mountain and water scenery, and enjoy the pleasure of strolling among the trees! The Ruyi Peak ropeway has a total length of 2012 m. The lower station is located within the Xingtianle International Tourism Resort, and the upper station directly reaches Yuanbao Peak, with a vertical height difference of 242 m, a one-way capacity of up to 2000 people/hr, and a speed of 0.5-6 m/s (adjustable). The ropeway uses equipment from the French company POMA, and its type is a monocable circulating detachable-grip 8-passenger gondola ropeway. The overall operation and safety system adopts advanced passenger ropeway technology and a full-process digital automatic control system, with technical indicators reaching world standards. III. Business operations and main achievements Since opening on January 6, 2020,Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaThe business is in good condition. Achieved the goal of zero safety production responsibility accidents during the operation period, with no major traveler complaints or breakdown parking incidents, and no fire or other personal injury safety accidents. November 2020,Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaIt was awarded the honor of "Top Ten Attractions of the Year in Guilin" by the Guilin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism. On December 24, 2021, it was rated by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Market Regulation Administration as a 2020 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "'Contract-Abiding and Credit-Worthy' Publicly Announced Enterprise." December 28, 2021Ruyi Peak Cableway Scenic AreaIt was awarded certificates of "Work Safety Standardization Enterprise" and "5S Service Quality Enterprise" by the China Cableway Association. In 2022, it was rated as one of the "Top Ten Internet-Famous Attraction Check-in Spots in Guilin" and one of the "Top Ten Meteorological and Climate View Check-in Spots in Guangxi," and was selected as a "World Karst Scientific Research and Study Tour Route." IV. Travel route Take the cableway up the mountain---admire Yuanbao Peak---experience the Ruyi Suspension Bridge---overlook Yangshuo from Ruyi Cloud Top---admire the peak-forest views along the forest promenade---experience the glass walkway---tourSinging tour Guilin metaverse digital experience hall——Back down the mountain 1. Ruyi Peak cableway Horizontal distance2012m, elevation difference241m, one-way capacity2000person(s)/hours, the cableway system equipment is from FrancePOMAThe company designs and manufactures it. The overall operation and safety system adopts advanced passenger ropeway technology and a full-process digital automatic control system, with technical indicators reaching the world level. 2. Ruyi suspension bridge The bridge is 142.4 m long, with a deck 2 m wide and 58 m above the valley floor. Standing on it, you can take in the panoramic view of the Yangshuo peaks and forests, while the gentle swaying in the air offers a thrilling and wondrous experience. 3. Ruyi Cloud Top Ruyi Peak is named for its ridge, which resembles the ruyi, a traditional Chinese auspicious object. Ruyi Cloud Top is a 360° viewing platform at the highest point of Ruyi Peak and a place to gaze at the wonder of the karst peak forest from afar. 4. Forest trail The forest walkway winds through peaks and valleys, with a total length of 246 m and a central height of 32.5 m. It is composed of a grid structure inlaid with tempered glass and steel grating. Viewed from afar, it looks like a graceful "rainbow" among the peak forests, and also like an aerial ribbon left atop the jungle. Strolling along it, you can take in the beautiful scenery of the peak forests and fully enjoy the fun of soaring through the pristine forest. 5. Glass skywalk The glass walkway is built suspended along the cliff face, 138 m long and 1.8 m wide. Walking on it is thrilling and highly challenging. Looking into the distance, you can see layered green peaks and forests, curling cooking smoke, and picturesque countryside. 6. Singing tour Guilin metaverse digital experience hall Located at the upper station of the Ruyi Peak cableway, it is an immersive digital experience space that uses digital technology and environmental art to showcase spatial creativity and intelligent interactive experiences, creatively integrating karst landscapes with ethnic customs, allowing visitors to feel as if they are walking through a dynamic scroll of Guilin's mountains and waters, creating the wondrous sensation of "traveling within a painting."

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Guilin

Elephant Hill Scenic Area

The Elephant Hill Scenic Area is located in the heart of Guilin, at the confluence of the Li River and the Peach Blossom River. It derives its name from its resemblance to a giant elephant stretching its trunk to drink from the sweet waters of the Li River. In his work "Records of Elephant Hill," Shu Shu, a Qing Dynasty official from the Ministry of Works, wrote: "The marvels of Guangxi lie in its mountains; the marvels of Guangxi's mountains lie in their rocks, and the elephant-shaped hill facing the provincial capital is the most marvelous of all." With its lifelike form, the attraction captivates visitors and stands as a quintessential representation of Guilin's landscape. In 1995, it was designated as the city emblem of Guilin. The main attractions in the scenic area include: Elephant Hill and Water Moon, Puxian Pagoda, Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua Liquor, Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Love Island, and Elephant Hill Scenic Area - Yunfeng Temple Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Exhibition Hall. Elephant trunk hill and water moon cave "Elephant trunk hill and water moon" is a spectacular wonder here, as described in the poem by Ji Bei Hermit of the Song Dynasty.Harmony of water, moon and caveThe poem reads: "The moon is beneath the water, the moon floats upon the water. The water flows but the moon stays, the moon departs yet the water still flows." On a moonlit night, visiting the Water Moon Cave at the Elephant Trunk Hill attraction presents a magical scene where the moon in the sky, the cave, and the water reflect each other beautifully. Inside the cave, you can find the "Poem and Preface of the Morning Sun Pavilion" by Zhang Xiaoxiang from the Song Dynasty and works by Fan Chengda.Inscription on the water and moon caveAnd over 50 precious cliff carvings including Lu You's poetry manuscripts. Xiangshan scenic area - Puxian pagoda Winding up along the rocky cliffs, you can see the Puxian pagoda standing tall amidst the greenery from afar. Built during the Ming dynasty, this 13.6m-high solid brick lama-style pagoda has a history of over 400 years. On the northern side of the pagoda, there is a line-engraved bluestone statue of a bodhisattva, with the mantra "Namo Puxian Bodhisattva" inscribed above it, hence the name Puxian pagoda in the Xiangshan attraction. Buddhist scriptures record that Puxian bodhisattva's mount is a six-tusked white elephant, making the pagoda's location atop Xiangshan mountain a perfect embodiment of this scripture. Elephant Hill Scenic Area and Guilin Sanhua liquor This is a natural wine cellar, with two-thirds of the mountain being hollow. It stays warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining a constant temperature of 19°C and humidity above 90% year-round. Since the Song Dynasty, it has served as an official cellar for storing Sanhua wine. Sanhua wine is colorless and transparent, with a fragrant yet spicy taste. It drawsLi RiverWith the essence of the mountains and the soul of the Li River, it has become a representative of China's rice-aroma liquor. The cellar liquor was designated as a tribute to the imperial court as early as the Northern Song Dynasty and is one of the three treasures of Guilin. To date, nearly a thousand tons of liquor are stored in the caves. Love island Love island is located on the north side of the attraction, adjacent toLi RiverIt is another scenic viewpoint for distant viewing. The island boasts a beautiful environment and lush vegetation, making it a popular dating spot for locals in the 1970s, hence the name "love island". Today, it serves as an outdoor photography base for wedding celebrations against the backdrop of Guilin's landscape, where couples make their vows of love under the witness of the elephant trunk hill and the moon reflected in the water.

Liang Yusheng Park

Liang Yusheng Park is located in the southeast corner of Mengshan County, beside National Highway 321, 143 kilometers away from Guilin City. The original site of Liang Yusheng Park was Aoshan Pagoda (i.e. Wenbi Pagoda), named because the pagoda was built on the top of the mountain and the mountain resembled a giant turtle. The main pagoda was first built in the 27th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1762), continued to be built during the Jiaqing period, and rebuilt in 1985. The pagoda is divided into five floors and is hexagonal in shape. Each floor has a tower eaves. The top of the pagoda is covered with glazed tiles, which is a lotus-shaped pottery product in the shape of a gourd. There is a couplet on both sides of the pagoda gate, which was written by Mr. Liang Yusheng (formerly known as Chen Wentong), a Hong Kong new-school martial arts novelist from Mengshan County, when he returned to his hometown in February 1987. The couplet says: "The light of literature shines on the sun, and the mind is broadened when you go to a high place, and the rural gang is turning over a new page; the writing is soaring, and it is a true talent with his own vision, and I hope that the future will be better than the predecessors." The window lintels of each layer, from bottom to top, are still inscribed according to the old pagoda, namely: "Aofeng Duxiu", "Tiyun Delu", "Yuanqi Zhonghan", "Guangshe Douniu", "Zhishang Changong". The eaves of each layer are decorated with colorful patterns. On the small hillside at the foot of the pagoda, there is a quiet ancient temple - Yong'an Temple, where the sound of scriptures echoes and incense is constantly burning. Whenever the sun sets, the rays of light shine, and hundreds of birds return to their nests, the Aoshan Pagoda looks particularly charming. In 2005, Liang Yusheng returned to China, and the People's Government of Mengshan County invested more than 7 million yuan to turn the hill where the Aoshan Pagoda is located into Liang Yusheng Park.

2026 Global 50 - Spring Outings

Qingxiu Mountain

Qingxiu Mountain is one of the famous scenic spots in Nanning and is located on the banks of the Yongjiang River. Qingxiu Mountain has more than a dozen foothills such as Qingshan and Fenghuangling. Here, you can visit the Longxiang Pagoda, look out over the landscapes. Or you can stroll through the park and admire different kinds of flowers. In springtime, this is a great place to enjoy flowers blooming, especially peach blossoms on Peach Blossom Island.